Baby Jesus Stolen From Church Nativity, Replaced by Severed Pig Head

Sometime between Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, someone stole baby Jesus from a Massachusetts church’s nativity scene and replaced him with a real pig’s head.

Police were called to Sacred Hearts Church in Haverhill, Massachusetts, just north of Boston, on Christmas morning and told of the theft, Fox 25 reported. Baby Jesus was replaced by a neighbor by Friday morning.

Catherine Parrotta, of Fox 25, reported on Twitter that the parish priest said he was shocked and horrified by what happened.

"It's just a really hurtful commentary on society," Pastor John Delaney told Fox 25. "And for someone to do this sad deed is really shocking.”

He told Fox 25 that parishioners were upset. “They're heartbroken, they're horrified, they're outraged by this act that really speaks to us on this most solemn day of hurt,” Delaney said.

"This particular pig is not the kind of pig that would be sold at a butcher shop," Fox 25 quoted Haverhill Police Lt. Robert Pistone from a news conference Friday. "Usually they would remove all the hair."